Management Team
Chris Proulx
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Proulx is the Chief Executive Officer of eCornell. He was appointed CEO in October, 2004 after serving six months as Chief Operating Officer and two years as Director of Program Management. As CEO, Chris is responsible for setting the strategic direction of eCornell, identifying growth potential in online education for eCornell, and collaborating with the senior leadership of the University and its faculty to strengthen and seek creative opportunities for our partnership.
Previously, as Director of Program Management, Chris was responsible for identifying potential new products, and working directly with the faculty and administration of the Schools and Colleges of Cornell University to produce and deliver our online programs. In addition, he directed eCornell’s project teams in their working relationship with the faculty to ensure that our programs deliver on the promise of the Cornell faculty’s content.
Prior to joining eCornell he founded his own consulting practice, The Open Road, which specialized in strategic consulting, product development, interface design, and rapid prototyping of web-based learning and performance support systems. He worked with a diverse set of global organizations with end-users on four continents.
Also, as Director of Projects for Knowledge Impact of Wayland, Massachusetts, Chris managed the development of new tools enabling Fortune 500 companies to deliver online learning and performance support in the areas of information systems training, business process improvement, and cultural and organizational change. He has managed large global training projects for organizations in diverse industries such as Citibank, TravelersGroup, Xerox, Marriott Corporation, and Goldman Sachs.
Chris presents at many education and corporate learning industry events, is a member of the American Society for Training and Development, and is active in both community and environmental issues which includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Finger Lakes Land Trust.
Chris's background is in the hospitality industry where he was an operations manager and training resource for Discovery Zone, Inc. and ARAMARK Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University.
Rob Kingyens
Chief Technology Officer
Rob is a customer-centric leader who leverages emerging technologies to change the way students learn, and deliver new technology products and services that position eCornell as both a market and a thought leader.
He was appointed CTO in October 2011 after serving as both the COO and CTO for Bancroft Technology Group. At Bancroft, he led the strategic, operational and technical solutions for three educational business units, encompassing management consulting and learning services, off-the-shelf courseware, and a SaaS-based Learning Management System serving 100,000+ end-users in 60+ countries.
In addition to speaking engagements and being cited in industry publications on the effective application of learning technologies, Rob has served in various management and executive level roles where he had led the analysis, design, development and implementation of learning and technology initiatives for global Fortune 1000, government and non-profit organizations. These have included Microsoft, United Technologies, General Electric, National Security Agency, Discovery, Red Cross, U.S. Green Building Council, Boston Consulting Group, IBM and McDonald’s.
Maureen Updike
Vice President, Human Resources and Administration
Maureen joined eCornell after 32 years at Cornell University, where she held several diverse and highly responsible management positions.
These included Assistant Director of Cornell Dining (a multi-million dollar operation with a primary focus on customer service, financial accountability and collaborative management), and Senior Administrator in the Office of the Senior Vice President.
Here, she was instrumental in developing and implementing the University’s Academic Leadership Series Forum and managed many university-wide strategic initiatives. As Senior Administrator for Academic Programs and University-wide Projects, Maureen coordinated academic program reviews, Dean and faculty searches, the organizational review of the Biological Sciences, the task force on the Social Sciences, and the Provost’s Committee on the development of an undergraduate Business program.
Will Hipwell
Vice President, Marketing
Will is responsible for eCornell’s worldwide branding, overall positioning and the promotion of its products and services. He oversees all aspects of the company’s retail and business-to-business marketing efforts, including online and offline direct marketing programs, customer relationship management initiatives, advertising and branding, product launches and public relations. He also manages eCornell’s third-party partner management programs that support reseller channels both domestically and internationally.
Prior to joining eCornell, Will held various senior management positions within the e-learning and performance management technology industries. Most recently he was the head of marketing and product management for a leading provider of learning management software where he was instrumental in growing revenue 40-fold in less than 10 years and won more than 60 awards for the company’s growth, product developments and business results generated for clients.
Will holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics & Mass Communication from York University in Toronto, Ontario ('94) and a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa ('95).
Tom Abogabal
Vice President, Sales
As eCornell’s Vice President of Sales, Tom is responsible for eCornell’s worldwide sales of its enterprise training solutions and services to organizations across all industry sectors. He oversees all aspects of the company’s business-to-business sales and customer relationship management efforts. He leads a nationwide sales team that helps organizations deliver high-impact learning solutions for their critical audiences across the world.
Tom brings 10+ years of experience in the training & consulting industries. He joined eCornell in March 2003 with extensive expertise in sales & business development in the public and private sector working with Fortune 500 Companies. As one of eCornell’s first business development team members, he helped cultivate eCornell’s corporate learning and talent management partnership in the Professional Services, Pharmaceutical, Financial Services, Aerospace & Defense and Hospitality sector to rapidly grow eCornell’s customer base to encompass industry leaders across the world. Prior to joining eCornell, Tom held various business development and customer relationship management positions with one of the world’s leading financial services firms and the professional services sector.
Tom participates at many education and corporate learning industry events, is a member of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and ASTDNY Chapter.
Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Rutgers College, Rutgers University ('97) and fluent in Arabic. Tom also practices what he preaches and earned his Certificate in Supervisory Skills from Cornell University ('04).
Cheri Kruse, CPA
Vice President, Financial Management
As eCornell’s vice president of financial management, Cheri provides financial oversight and analyses, develops and recommends financial policies and strategies to assure the company’s continued financial strength and oversees all accounting system controls and standards as well as contract administration ensuring accuracy and efficiency of financial operations. She is directly responsible for the review and issuance of the monthly and annual financial and statistical reports and the company’s budget and forecasting process.
Before joining eCornell, Cheri has held various management positions in public accounting, real estate and hospitality fields. She was the Consulting Department Supervisor with Sciarabba Walker & Co. in Ithaca, NY where she provided business consulting with a focus on new start-ups, performed financial statement audits and prepared corporate tax returns. She also held various management positions with Bristol Hotels and Resorts including Internal Auditor, Controller, Director of Rooms and Director of Operations in Texas and Nebraska.
Cheri holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and a Master of Science in Accounting from Oklahoma State University. She is a Certified Public Accountant in New York and Texas.
Lisa Hatfield
Assistant Vice President, Retail
Lisa is responsible for the growth of eCornell’s student enrollments. She works with her team to ensure that individuals considering professional development choose the program that aligns closest with their career goals, and that the eCornell student experience meets Ivy League expectations.
She was promoted to this position in July 2011 after serving two years as Retail Manager and four years as an Enrollment Counselor.
Prior to joining eCornell, Lisa held various management positions within the newspaper industry. Most recently she was leading an advertising sales team with Gannett, a Fortune 500 media company. Lisa has earned the Human Resources Practices Certificate and is now working on her second eCornell credential, High Performance Leadership.
Alan McCarty
Assistant Vice President, Learning Technology
